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REPOWERING the mothballed Bataan Nuclear Power Plant (BNPP)
remains uncertain even after the International Atomic
Energy Association’s (IAEA) recent visit to the facility
in Morong town.
Energy
Secretary Angelo Reyes said the IAEA study was focused
on advising the government on steps it should take
should it reconsider repowering the BNPP or even
starting anew in developing nuclear power in the
country.
Reyes
said a technical working group (TWG) has been created,
composed of people from the Department of Energy (DOE),
the National Power Corp. (Napocor) and the Philippine
Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) to look into the
preservation and maintenance of the BNPP.
Reyes
said the IAEA team recommended the conduct of a thorough
feasibility study that will take two years to
accomplish. Only after that is completed, he explained,
can the government be able to make an informed judgment
on whether to proceed with using nuclear power for
commercial purposes.
Reyes
said the feasibility study will primarily focus on the
technical aspects of nuclear power as well as on nuclear
safety, spent fuel and filling in the power capacity
gap.
Reyes
said it will also help the government address issues on
social acceptance.
“So
that’s what we’re looking at and the TWG will prepare
the feasibility study. As of now, there are several
options that can be undertaken—keep it mothballed;
operate it as a nuclear power plant or operate it using
other sources of energy,” said Reyes, adding he is also
not in a position to say which is the superior option.
Early
this year, Reyes said the use of nuclear energy as a
source of electricity is something the government would
still have to decide on someday, given any
recommendation the IAEA will offer. |
